Safety razor



Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNETED STATES 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in` safety razors and particularly to a type employing a ilat blade with double cutting edges, the invention being directed to both the holder and the blade, the holder susceptible for use with the commercial thin flexible double edged blades, the improved blade, however, permitting its replacement from the holder without dismantling the holder.

An object of the invention is to provide a razor blade holder having opposed plates for receiving and holding a ilat razor blade therebetween and sustaining its cutting edges in parallelism with the guarding edgesof a guard plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a razor blade holder in which the blade is secured between opposed plates adjustable as a unit toward and from a guard plate, whereby the blade, opposed and guard plates may be moved relatively to each other to separate the parts for the purpose of cleansing without requiring the blade to be removedfrom the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a razor blade holder with opposed plates for receiving and holding a double edged ilat blade therebetween, and adjustable as a unit toward and from a concaved face of a guard plate and against a flat spring interposed between the opposed plates and concaved face of the guard plate for tensioning the spring to compress the opposed plates together and regulatably position the cutting edges of the blade in parallelism with the guarding edges of the guard plate for either coarse or fine shaving. v

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the holder with the parts in separatedfposition for blade replacement.

Figure 2 is a for use.

Figure' 3 is an end view thereof.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 2, showing the clamp assembly with an interposed blade adjusted against a spring and guard plate in one limit of adjustment.

Figure 5 is a section on line-ii, Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectionon line 6 6, Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a sectional View similar to Figure 6 but taken below the plane of clamp assembly in order to show the spring.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the improved blade.

Referring to the drawing, l indicates a handle having a guard plate extending cross-wise of one side elevation of the holder ready (Cl. 30--65)r end thereof, as a T-head integral therewith or permanently xed thereto. The guard plate 2, is of curved or arcuate form in cross section, the arc inverted to curve toward the handle, providing a channel in its outer face longitudinally thereof. Thelongitudinal opposite edges of the guard plate 2 are provided with outstanding guard teeth 3.

The handle I! is of hollow or counterbored tubular construction for thereception of a steril or elongated `stud 4 integral with and centrally transversely extending from the lower side of an outer clamping plate 5. The extremity of the stem or stud is screwthreaded for coaction with an internally threaded sleeve nut or adjuster ii, telem scopically and rotatatively engaged within` the outer end of the hollow handle, whereupon rotating the sleeve nut or adjuster 6 the stem with its outer clamping plate 5, as a unit, may be ad justed in appropriate directions for either clamping or releasing a double edged razor blade l, interposed between the clamping plate 5 and a lower or second clamping plate 8. The tightening of the clamping plates 5 and 8 draws the clamping plates and razor blade toward the guard plate 2 for rigidly securing the parts of the holder assembly together.

The sleeve nut or adjuster 5 is provided with a knurled head 9 external of the outer end of the handle as a iinger hold for rotating the sleeve nut. The head 9 abuts the end of the handle which is flanged or spun inwardly into an annular groove in the periphery of the sleeve nut to c0nfine the sleeve nut against longitudinal displacement. The stem 4 of the outer clamping plate 5 traverses the lower clamping plate through a central aperture therethrough, and the lower side of the lower clamping plate4 8 has a rib lll centrally longitudinally thereof for bearing upon a spring plate or leafll interposed between the lower clamping plate 8 and the channel side of the guard plate 2. The channel in the guard plate 2, in tightening the parts of the assembly, allows the spring plate or leaf Il to be transversely flexed into the channel.

For clamping the razor blade, the sleeve nut 6 is rotated in an appropriate direction for drawing the stem fi and clamp assembly toward the guard plate E!y against the spring plate il, stressing the same for imparting a pressure to bind the clamping plates and blade together. Normally the adjustment is to such a degree as will bring all of the parts in rigid contact with one another and provide a minimum space between the cutting edges of the blade and teeth of the guard plate, as shown in Figure 5, whereupon the holder is ready for use. With the parts in their fully clamped position the holder is used for going over the face the first time. For a subsequent going over or closer shaving, the sleeve nut is unscrewed a half turn or more, allowing the blade to recede slightly from the toothed edges of the guard plate 2 but without loosening the clamping bind upon the blade, which is maintained by the pressure of the spring plate II. This furnishes a greater degree of blade freedom from the guard teeth and for a movement of the blade at a more varied degree of angle over the face than is possible under the minimum spacing of the blade edges from the guard teeth.

In shaving for the rst going over of the face with the clamping assembly firmly or fully clamped, the holder is held at substantially the same angle as in the use of all safety razors, approximately bringing the blade to an angle of 45. Under no circumstances should the blade assembly be held perpendicular or flat against the face. The angle at which the razor is held and the distance between the cutting edges of the blade and the toothed edges of the guard plate are important factors toward producing the best results. The individual can easily determine the most suitable adjustments for his requirements.

The spring plate II extending or coinciding with the length of the clamping plates and when slightly flexed crosswise exerts ample pressure upon the clamping plates and blade to prevent any tilting or Vibratory action of the blade and a very eirective range of blade adjustment toward and from the toothed edges of the guard plate is obtained, and ample to meet all requirements.

The blade under any degree o-f shaving adjustment is always securely bound between the clamping plates, leaving no opportunity for individual exing of the blade between the clamping plates, as in the case of the commercial razor blade holders wherein the blade is clamped between a clamping plate or member and the guard plate, requiring the parts to be rmly clamped together to sustain the blade stable.

In the holder of the present invention the blade is clamped in a horizontal plane, there is no bowing of the blade, and its plane is not disturbed for its various shaving adjustments. In the commercial razor blade holders wherein the blade is bowed in clamping, it is necessary to tighten the parts to their full limit, otherwise the blade is not secure for shaving.

The holder is adaptable for the commercial double edged wafer type of blades, usually containing three aligned apertures or an elongated slot of peculiar configuration longitudinally of the blade to be fitted and engaged over a plurality of studs carried by one or both of the clamping elements, for sustaining the blade and clamping elements in relative alignment and registration. To insert such standard types of commercial blades within the holder it is necessary to completely unfasten and remove the outer clamping plate from the holder to allow its stem to be engaged through the blade. This, however, is only necessary for blade replacement, as ordinarily after use of the razor the clamp assembly is loosened sufliciently to fully reflex the spring plate II, to preserve its resiliency and which will amply suilice for cleansing the part as by subjecting the same to the spray of water from a nozzle or faucet and thereafter shaking the holder to remove the moisture.

Removing the outer clamping plate 5 from the holder permits a commercial blade to be engaged over a pair of studs I2, I2 protruding from the upper or face side of the lower clamping plate 8, which register and respectively engage through correspondingly located apertures I3, I3 in the outer clamping plate 5. The stem 4 is engaged through the central aperture in the blade and a corresponding aperture in the lower clampingr plate 8, and thence connected with the sleeve nut 6 and the parts tightened as heretofore described.

I To automatically open and close the clamping elements and to non-rotatively sustain the stem 4 and its clamping plate 5 upon the holder or within the handle thereof and to maintain true alignment between the two sections of this detail under extreme open adjustments, the stem is provided with a longitudinal key way I4 for receiving a key xed within the lower clamp plate. 'Ihe assembly, as described, responds to the action of the adjuster 5 to alternately and automatically adjust the cutting edges of the blade in their relation to the edges of the guard plate and also open and close the clamp plates for the reception and removal of the blade.

The necessity of disassembling the clamping elements for blade replacement can be avoided by the employment of a specific type of blade, as illustrated in Figure 8. The blade is of the double edged wafer type, but as it is not flexed in clamping can be of a heavier gauge metal, giving it more body and added durability. It is provided with a single aperture I5 to engage over one of the studs I2 of the lower clamping plate 8 and an elongated slot I6 open to an outer edge of the blade. The elongated slot receives the stem 4 of the outer clamping plate 5 and the second stud I2 of the lower clamping plate 8, and permits of sidewise insertion or withdrawal of the blade from the stem 4 without removal of the stem and cap plate from the device. The clamping assembly need only be loosened enough for the studs to clear the outer clamping or cap plate 5 for a passage of the blade therebetween, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The lower clamping plate 8 is sustained in longitudinal alignment and registration with the guard plate by a pair of studsA I'I, II, extending laterally from the lower side of the lower clamping plate for engagement through a correspondingly located set of apertures in the spring plate and guard plate andprotrude from the lower side of the guard plate. The studs I1, II respectively are each headed by a screw I8, which prevents displacement of the lower clamping plate from the guard plate by restricting its motion to the necessary play for a full reflex adjustment of the spring plate. This materially facilitates and expedites the general use of the holder in blade replacement with convenience and dispatch.

The blade being firmly clamped between a pair of rigid clamping plates, held together as a unit under the pressure of the spring plate for the range of adjustment for varying the spacing between the cutting `edges and guarding edges, the cutting edges are always maintained in parallelism with the guarding edges of the guard plate for a uniform performance for the full length of the cutting edge. Adjusting the blade cutting edge from the guarding edge provides for more exposure of the cutting edge for closer shaving, eliminating the necessity of forcibly applying the guarding edge against the skin, to bring the cutting edge into greater intimacy with the skin and unless properly guarded one is apt to cut the skin. The advantage is to apply the razor to the skin with the least pressure possible, so as not to destroy the utility of the guarding edge, relying on the keenness of the cutting edge to cut the hair under a sliding stroke or movement and the weight of the holder bearing the guarding edge against the skin, while the user only draws the holder over the skin and presents the blade at an appropriate angle.

Having describe-d my invention, I claim:

A safety razor comprising a holder, the holder constituting a handle and guard plate, the guard plate extending centrally transversely of one end of the handle and concaved longitudinally, a pair of opposing clamping plates, as an outer and inner, interveningly clamping a razor blade therebetween and in longitudinal registration With the guard plate, a razor blade removably disposed between said clamping plates, a spring plate longitudinally interposed between said clamp-ing plates as a unit and concaved side of said guard plate, the inner of said clamping plates having a pair of aligned studs extending laterally from one side thereof, respectively projecting through apertures in said blade and outer clamping plate, and a central longitudinal rib and pair of aligned studs extending from its opposite side, the rib in contact with the spring and the studs engaging respectively through apertures in said spring and guard plate, and means carried by the handle connecting with one of the clamping plates for urging said clamping plates, razor blade and spring plate unitarily toward the guard plate for rigidly binding the parts together and for regulating the spacing between the cutting edges o-f the razor blade and guarding edges of the guard plate, and for automatically opening and closing the clamping elements for the reception or removal oi the blade.

CHARLES L. WILLCOX. 

